Suction cleaner



Nov. 13, 1934. REBEL, JR 1,980,438

SUCTION CLEANER Filed March 31, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet vl 1%.? Wfg mm w gwue'ntu Nov. 13, 1934. F. RIEBEL, JR 1,930,438

I SUCTION CLEANER Filed March 31, 1933 x 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ji /Q Patented Nov. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES SUCTION CLEANER Frederick Riebel, Jr., Toledo, Ohio, assignor to Air-Way Electric Appliance Corporation, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application March 31, 1933, Serial No. 663,780

13 Claims. (01. 15-157) This invention relates to suction cleaners of a type wherein agitation of the carpet or rug to be cleaned is accomplished by the lips which define the mouth of the fioor tool. Such lips may be appropriately termed lip agitators" or simply agitators.

'The primary object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner floor tool of the lip agitator type which is, to begin with, capable of efiiciently and easily picking up entangled or embedded thread particles, cotton, or lint, from a rub or carpet, and which is, secondly, adaptable to any type or style of rug.

The thread picking emciency is secured by use of an agitator having fine, closely spaced comb teeth the forward faces of which are inclined forwardly and downwardly to secure a lifting effect, the teeth being wide and thin and formed by slotting the agitator in parallel planes perpendicular 20 to its longitudinal axis.

Such pointed teeth are excellent for pile rugs, but for rugs such as hooked rugs, another type of agitator is preferable. The present invention, then, aims to provide a floor tool in which the comb-toothed agitator is readily convertible into an agitator having a different type of working portion. Furthermore, the invention aims to accomplish such conversion without the use of spare parts.

In the fulfillment of those several objects, the invention contemplates an arrangement wherein an agitator, embodying a plurality of longitudinally parallel, angularly spaced working portions, is mounted in the floor tool by means adapted to releasably hold the agitator in any of a plurality of different positions, in each of which a different working portion of the agitator is presented for engagement with a surface to be operated upon, the agitator being constructed to coast with holding means carried by the floor tool, in any of its several respective positions.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is an inverted plan view of a floor tool embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the same.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the agitator and associated holding and positioning means.

Fig. 5 is a view of a comb working face of the agitator.

Fig. 6 is a view of a triangular lug working face which may be embodied in the agitator.

Fig. 7 is a similar view of a transverse lug working face which may be embodied in the agitator.

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view similar to Fig. 4, of a modification of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a similar view of another modification of the invention.

Fig. 10 is a similar view of another modification of the invention.

Fig. 11 is a similar view of another modification of the invention.

Fig. 12 is a transverse sectional view of a composite agitator which may be employed as a part of the invention.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 4 of another modification of the invention.

Fig. 14 is a broken away elevation of the same.

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 4 of another form of the invention.

Fig. 16 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same.

Fig. 17 is an inverted plan view of the same.

Fig. 18 is a view similar to Fig. 4 of a further modification of the invention.

Fig. 19 is a longitudinal sectional view of the 0 same.

Fig. 20 is a view, similar to Fig. 4, of a further modification of the invention.

Fig. 21 is an interior elevational view of the same.

Fig. 22 is a view similar to Fig. 4 of a further modification of the invention.

Fig. 23 is a similar view of a further modification.

Fig. 24 is a similar view of a further modification.

Fig. 25 is a similar view of a further modification.

Fig. 26 is a similar view of a further modification.

The invention isembodied in a floor tool including the shell 20,-the rollers 21 supporting the shell 20 through the medium of resilient mountings 22 received in the end sockets 23, the agitators A and B, and the throat 24, connected to the suction neck 25 by means of a swivel joint 26 which allows the floor tool to swivel relative to the cleaner.

The resilient mountings 22 allow the agitators A and B to be depressed into engagement with 1 5 the surface being cleaned.

The forward and rear wall portions 27 are set of! from the body of the shell 20 by the connecting shoulders 28. To the inclined faces 29 Just above the shoulders 28 are secured the flanges 30 of the spring clips 31, which are spaced from the wall portions 27 to form sockets for reception of the agitators A, B.

The rear agitator A will normally present an operative working portion comprising a series of closely spaced elongated teeth 32, formed by slotting the agitator at right angles to its longitudinal axis, and having a contour determined by the cross sectional shape of the agitator. The forward edge of a tooth 32 is inclined outwardly toward its tip 50 as at 33. The lower edge is inclined forwardly and downwardly as at 34, thus forming an acute angle with the edge 33. The lower edge 34 curves upwardly at the rear as at 35, merging in the rear face 36 of the agitator which inclines upwardly and inwardly to meet the inclined face 33a of the inoperative alternate working portion.

The alternate portion has the same cross sectional shape as the operative portion just described, the faces 33a, 34a, 35a and 36a having the same slope and curvature as the corresponding faces or edges 3.3, 34, 35, 36. Each half of the agitator is thus broader at its outer extremity than at the central region of the agitator.

The wall portion 27 and shoulder 37 of the clip cooperate to position the agitator, the tip edge 50a of the inoperative agitator portion engaging the wall 27 and the face 34a. engaging the shoulder 37 as shown.

The free extremity 38 of the clip 31 constrains inwardly toward a normal unstrained position considerably closer to the wall 27 than that shown. It is held in the distended position by the agitator, which is thus gripped under the resilient pressure of the clip, applied at the narrow waist region of the inoperative agitator portion, to the inclined face 36a, serving not only to urge the tip edge of the inoperative portion laterally into engagement with the wall 27, but also to urge the face 34a upwardly into engagement with the shoulder 37.

Thus the agitator is accurately positioned and securely held against, removal.

Two clips are provided for each agitator, spaced apart longitudinally, in order to disclose an uncovered central portion of the agitator which may be grasped for removing the agitator from the floor tool. (See Fig. 2.) Removal is accomplished by forcibly lifting the agitators from their sockets. Because the clips 31 must be moved outwardly against their tension as the broader outer region of the agitator passes by the constraining portions 38, some force must be employed. It is this feature which insures the agitators remaining snugly in correct position.

The inoperative agitator portion may be provided with the same type of teeth as the operative portion, or it may be different as indicated. Of the two agitators A and B, some of the working faces will bevaried. Any combination of the four types of working faces illustrated may be employed. A plain, unslotted face is shown in reached. Thus for a long time positioning of the agitator will not be affected by wear. When sufficient wear has occurred to allow the agitator to recede upwardly into its socket, the constraining portion 38 of the clip will still continue to grip the narrower region of the agitator because of its being preformed to an unstrained position considerably closer to the wall 27 than its distended position. It is to be noted that initially it grips the agitator somewhat short of the narrowest region thereof, so as to allow such recession.

The secure holding of the agitator against removal is made certain by the concentration of the pressure of the clip 31 at the narrow waist of the agitaton. This in turn is attained by spacing the region of the clip 31 intermediate the shoulder 37 and the constraining portion 38, away from the surface of the agitator, so as to achieve a two line contact.

The inclination of the shell face 29 facilitates the affixing of the clips by means of the rivets 39.

The angle between the faces 33a and 34a provides a wedge which facilitates the entry of the inoperative agitator portion into its socket. In inserting the agitator, it will be slightly rotated to allow the faces 33a and 34a to equally exert a wedging action against the wall 27 and clip 31.

The dovetailed shape of the agitator portion gives it retention in its socket when in inoperative position, and gives it a scooping forward which instead of the shoulder 37 on the clip 31,

a shoulder 40 cooperates with the wall 2'7 to position the agitator, while the clip 41 is flat and centers its pressure at the narrow region of the agitator by means of an inwardly projecting pressure rib 42.

In Fig. 9 is shown aform of the invention in which the clip 43 exerts its pressure against the widest region of the inoperative agitator portion, and retention is secured by forming the wall 27a to engage the narrow waist region of the agitator.

In Fig. 10, retention is secured by a retractile element in the form of a set screw 42a instead of the resilient pressure rib 42 of Fig. 8. The screw 42a abuts the face 36a and exerts pressure thereagainst in a direction such as to urge the face 34a against the positioning shoulder 40.

The agitator may be formed with the two faces 33 and 3301. both on the same side of the agitator,

as the agitator D in Fig. 11, with a spring 44 to exert pressure against the narrow region between the two faces.

The preferable construction, however, is that in which the agitator is formed with the plurality working portions thereof symmetrically opposed as in Figs. 4, 8, 9, and 10. The advantage of this construction is a decrease of the likelihood of warpage of the agitator after it has been cut to shape.

The agitator may be formed as a composite of two strips E and F, secured together by a longitudinally extending tongue and groove connection and a rivet 45. This form is of particular advantage in that one strip may be of'metal, and wi l serve to rigidly hold the other strip against warping, in addition to having better wearing quality.

The retractile holding element may be mounted on the wall 27 as in Fig. 13, and urge the curved shoulder 35a of the inoperative agitator portion against the shoulder of the floor tool shell, and an inner flange 46 depending from the shoulder 40. The wall 27 also cooperates in positioning the agitator, engaging the tip edge 50a.

The retractile holding means of Figsf13 and 14, comprises a latch lever 51, pivoted at 52 in a depression 53 in the wall 27, and having a cam member 54 to engage a pin 55 in the agitator. A handle 56 on the end of the lever 51 normally rests in a notch.5'7 in the wall 27. When the latch lever is lifted, the pin 55 may pass the cam 54 to allow the agitator to be lifted from its socket. One of the latch devices is mounted near each end of the floor tool.

In Figs. 15 and 16 the agitator is positioned in the same manner as in Figs. 13 and 14, but is held by spring latches 58 engaging notches 59 in the ends of the agitator. The socket flange 46 in this case is cut away at its end as at 4'7 to receive the latches 58,'the latter serving both forward and rear agitators simultaneously.

In Figs. 18 and 19 the holding means comprises set screws 60, having conical noses 61 engaging V-shaped notches 62 in the ends of the agitator, so as to urge the agitator into seating engagement with the shell shoulder 40 and the flange 46.

The spring clips 31, engaging the agitator over a major portion of its length, will hold the agitator against warping from its straight line axis...

The clips form one side of the positioning socket.

In the forms shown in Figs. 10, 13-18 inclusive, and 20, 21, the socket has rigid walls on both sides, and the retractile element serves mainly as a securing element. This is particularly true in Figs. 20 and 21, wherein the inner socket wall 46a has a series of notches '70, through which the narrow spring clips '71 project into engagement with the agitator '72.

The narrow waist region of the agitator '72 is formed by a longitudinal groove '73, in which the end portion 42b of the 'clip '71 is received.

The agitator '74 in Fig. 22, is held simply by friction between the floor tool flange 2'7 and the spring clip 43a, forming, with the flange 2'7, a socket. Positioning of the agitator is effected by engagement with the shoulder 40. The agitator '74 is of uniform thickness so that both halves of the agitator will uniformly engage between the constraining holding members 2'7, 43a.

In Fig. 23, the agitator 76 is secured by holding members in the form of screws '77 threaded into tapped openings 78 in the agitator. 'I'he openings '78 are arranged midway between the working portions '79 so that they may receive the screws '78 in either of the alternate positions of the agitator, and in each case will present a working portion '79 in proper position for operation.

Instead of the spring clip 43a of Fig. 22, the agitator '74 may be held by a set screw 80, as in Fig. 24, the inoperative working portion being socketed between the walls 2'7 and 46b.

As in Fig. 25, the agitator 81 may be provided with more than two working portions, the arrangement preferably being such that all inoperative working portions are concealed within the floor tool, only the operative portion projecting. A spring clip 41a may be employed to hold the agitator in place. One or several of the inoperative working portions, constituting the region opposite the operative working portion, may be socketed in the floor tool lip socket 270.

In Fig. 26, the agitator 82 is held in engagement with the positioning flange 2'7 and shoulder 40 by means of a spring clip 83 including a recessed portion 84 receiving a ridge 85 formed centrally of the agitator.

To summarize, the invention provides a set of lip agitators in which a plurality of distinct types of working faces may be had. The agitator is so constructed that one working portion-when in inoperative position, is concealed in the floor tool shell. Holding means is provided with which the agitator is constructed to engage in any of its several respective positions. The housewife, when operating on one rug, may use the comb face of one or both agitators. When operating on another rug, she may quickly substitute smooth or triangular tooth agitators, so as to, for instance, avoid catching the loops of a hooked rug.

She may employ a set of agitators having more than one of a particularly desirable type of'working face, but use only one at a time, so as to prolong the useful life of such faces. If she uses the cleaner so as to clean on both forward and back strokes, she may use comb faces for both working faces. If she cleans only on the forward stroke, she may employ a smooth face for the forward working face, facilitating the smoothness of operation.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a suction cleaner, a floor tool, an agitator formed with alternate working portions angularly spaced around the longitudinal axisof the agitator, each working portion being wider at its outer extremity than at the axial region of the agitator. and means carried by the floor tool to releasably receive, engage, and securely hold one of said working portions in an inoperative position so as to position the other working portion for operative association with a surface to be cleaned, said inoperative portion being retained by virtue of its greater width at its outer extremity.

2. For attachment to a suction cleaner floor tool including holding and positioning means comprising opposed relatively retractile members, an agitator formed with a narrowed waist at its longitudinal axis region, defining two opposed working portions, one of which is engageable in said holding and positioning means so as to present the other for engagement with a surface to be operated upon, and is adapted to be retained by virtue of engagement of one of said members with said narrowed waist.

3. For attachment to a suction cleaner floor tool including holding and positioning means comprising opposed relatively retractile members, an agitator comprising two opposed working portions disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the agitator and each provided with a face constituting its forward face when in operative position, said face being inclined within the general plane of the side of the agitator and merging into the back face of the opposed agitator portion, which latter face is also inclined inwardly from its outer extremity, within the general plane of the side of the agitator, the depression formed between said faces being adapted to receive one of said relatively retractile members for securing the agitator in said holding and positioning means.

4. For attachment to a suction cleaner floor tool including holding and positioning means comprising opposed relatively retractile members, an agitator comprising two opposed working portions disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the agitator and each provided with a face constituting its forward face when in operative position, said face being inclined within the generalplane of the side of the agitator so as to form a depression, adapted to receive one of said retractile members for securing the agitator in said holding and positioning means.

5. A suction cleaner floor tool including a lip region comprising a vertical flange terminating at its upper extremity in an inwardly extending shoulder, a spring clip secured to the inner, surface of the floor tool above said shoulder, said clip including an inwardly extending shouldered region merging into a downwardly and outwardly 'inclined holding member, adapted to secure between it and said flange, an agitator bar.

6.. For attachment to a suction cleaner floor tool including holding and positioning means comprising opposed relatively retractile members, an agitator formed with alternate working portions angularly spaced around the longitudinal axis of the agitator, each working portion being wider at its outer extremity than at the axial region of the agitator, one of said working portions being engageable in said holding and positioning means so as to present another for engagement with a surface to be operated upon, and adapted to be retained by virtue of its greater width at its outer extremity.

'7. For attachment to a suction cleaner floor tool including holding and positioning means comprising opposed relatively retractile members, an agitator comprising a bar formed with a narrowed waist at its longitudinal axis region, defining two integral portions, one of which is engageable in said holding and positioning means so as to present the other for engagement with a surface to be operated upon, and is adapted to be retained by virtue of engagement of one of said members with said narrowed waist, and the other of which is formed with a working face for operation upon said surface.

8. For attachment to a suction cleaner floor tool including holding and positioning means comprising opposed relatively retractile members, an agitator comprising a bar formed with two integral longitudinally extending portions, each of which is wider at its outer extremity than at its region adjoining the other working portion, one of said portions being engageable in said holding and positioning means so as to present the other for engagement with a surface to be operated upon, and adapted to be retained by virtue of its greater width at its outer extremity, and the other being formed with 1a working face for operation upon said surface.

9. In combination, a suction cleaner floor tool of rigid material including a lip region comprising an integral downwardly extending flange terminating at its upper extremity in an inwardly extending shoulder, a spring clip secured in the floor .tool and projecting downwardly in spaced relation to said flange, and an agitator bar resiliently held between said flange, its position vertically being determined by engagement with said shoulder.

10. In combination, a suction cleaner floor tool of rigid material including a lip socket defined between an integral portion of the floor tool and a resilient clip secured to the floor tool, and an agitator bar formed with alternate working portions angularly spaced around its longitudinal axis, either of said working portions being receiv able in said socket so as to present the other for engagement with a surface to be operated upon.

11. For attachment to a floor tool including holding and positioning means in the mouth of the floor tool, a lip agitator comprising a bar of 1 solid material, formed with alternate working portions angularly spaced around its longitudinal axis, either of said working portions being engageable by said holding and positioning means so as to present the other for engagement with a 1 surface to be operated upon.

12. For attachment to a floor too] including holding and positioning means in its mouth, an agitator bar formed with rigid working portions angularly spaced aroundits longitudinal axis, any 3 one of said working portions being receivable in said holding and positioning means so as to present another for engagement with a surface to be operated upon.

13. In combination, a suction cleaner floor tool 1 of rigid material including a lip region comprising an integral downwardly extending flange terminating at its upper extremity in an inwardly extending shoulder, a spring clip secured in the floor tool and projecting downwardly iii-spaced I relation to said flange, for use in connection with an agitator bar resiliently held between said flange and said clip, its position vertically being determined by engagement with said shoulder.

FREDERICK RIEBEL, J3. 

